Lifting frame for carrying freight containers of varying lengths



United States Patent [72] inventor [45] Patented Dec. 15, 1970 [32] Priority Feb. 20, 1968 [33] France [54] LIFTING FRAME FOR CARRYING FREIGHT CONTAINERS 0F VARYING LENGTHS [50] Field ofSearch 294/63. 67; l88/l 76; 16/44. 35

Primary ExaminerEvon C. Bltmk Assistant Examiner-Merle F. Maffei Attorney-Mann, Brown, Mc Williams & Bradway ABSTRACT: The supporting units of a container lifting frame are mounted on spring biased rollers to provide for adjustment 3C 8 "8 2 for different sized containers. When a load is applied the [52] [1.8. CI. 294/67, Springs are compressed so that fixed portions of the mov bl 188/ 176 units frictionally engage their supporting structure to prevent [5!) lnt.Cl. B66c l/42 ther movement.

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LIFTING FRAME FOR CARRYING FRElGI-IT CONTAINERS OF VARYING LENGTI-IS This invention relates to a lifting 'franie'for lifting freight containers in which the frame is provided with mobile beams frame made up of two parallel girders,.or else are simply placed on'these girders so that they can beset at any wanted position longitudinally of the girders. In both cases, the changing of position of the beams, to adjusting themto the length of a particular container, is possible'only by lifting thebeams to put them in a new position, this operation usually involving the locking of the beams in their new positions against movement therefrom.

When there is a great number of containers of standard design but of various dimensions, such beam adjusting operations are always time consuming and are often difficult if the beams must be moved by hand. I

The present invention overcomes these difficulties by providing an adjustable'or extensible lifting'frame from which container loads can be suspended on mobile beams, each such beam including at both ends a rolling'device running on the respective girders making up the frarneg'this rolling device being flexibly connected to the beam, and each mobile beam also including at least one flange defining a load-transmitting seat adapted to rest on the same girders when the beams are loaded, some clearance being provided between the resting flange and the girder when the beam supports no load that permits ready shifting of the beams under no load conditions by operation of their respective rolling devices;

The invention shall now be described in more detail with reference to the two particular embodiments of same that are given as examples and are shown in the drawings.

The embodiment of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 relates to an arrangement according towhich the mobilebeams ,are identical and shift longitudinally of an elongate girder framework that defines the length'of the frame.

The embodiment of FIGS. 4, 5, Hand 7 relates to another arrangement according to which the mobile frames are associated with a comparatively short girder framework defining the frame, and are arranged to telescope, thus allowing the use of a girder framework shorter than the longest containers to be handled. I

FIG. 1 is a side view of the first form of lift'frame;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are end views of the liftjframe shown in FIG. 1, showing the positions that the mobile frames take without load and under load, respectively;

FIG. 3A is a fragmental sectional view better illustrating the spring biased roller devices of the mobile beams of FIGS. 1-

FIG. 4 is an end view of the alternate lifting frame with its two telescoping mobile beams;

FIG. 5 is a fragmental sectional view substantially along line V-V of FIG. 4, showing the arrangement of one of the mobilebeams;

FIG. 5A is a view similar to that of FIG. 3A, illustrating the spring biased roller devices of the mobile beams of FIGS. 4-

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the frame of FIG. 5 in which the telescoping beams are retracted up to the position corresponding to the shortest container load to be handled; and

FIG. 7 is a view similar tothat ofqFlG. 6 but in which the telescoping beams are fully extended for'the hoisting of the longest container |oads.-

With reference to the embodiment of'FIGS. I, 2 and 3, the lifting frame A comprises two-spaced girders 1 made of joists in the form of l-beams that are connected together by fixed beams 2 that are spaced-apart and providedwith eyes 3 for the hoisting of the whole frame. Frame A is provided with a pair of the frame A to dispose their hooking points, 12 in alignment mobile beams 4, each mobile beam 4 comprising at both ends a vertical part 5, the top portion of which extends over the respective girders and on which is fitted a casing or housing 6 in which is disposed a helical compression spring 7 (see FIG. 3A). Inside the spring 7 is received a rod 8 which carries a spring seat 88 and a yoke 8A in which is fitted a wheel 9. The respective springs 7 are interposed between the respective casings 6 and the respective spring seats 88. Thus, each mobile beam 4 is supported at its ends by the'bottom flanges of the respective girders 1 through the individual wheels 9, each beam 4 being similarly equipped with .a pair of the casings 6 and associated wheels 9, etc.

The springs 7 are designed and adjusted such that, when the frame A is under no load conditions, and thus carries only the dead load of the mobile beams 4, springs 7 are sufficiently strong to establish and maintain a small clearance between the top lateral extensions of the respective mobile beam vertical parts 5 (which form girder-engaging seats when the mobile beams are loaded) and the top flange of the respective girders 1. In the unloaded condition each mobile beam 4 can readily be moved or run longitudinally of frame A as it easily rolls on its wheels 9 on the bottom flanges of the respective girders I. Each beam 4 can easily be moved by hand, or by using a suitableimplement, its traveling being guided by the guide plates 10 attached to the respective mobile beams and placed astride the guide rail 11 that is attached to and extends between the fixed beams 2. q

The respective mobile beams each are supplied with suitable means for securing same to a freight container to be lifted, such as the connection devices or booking points 12 adapted to cooperate with conventional locking devices at the upper corners of the containers (not shown).

In use, the frame A is lowered to a position of adjacency to the container to be lifted and is approximately centered over such container; the mobile beams are rolled longitudinally of with the container lock devices at either end of the container whereupon the frame is sufficiently lowered to enable the container to be locked to hooking points 12. The frame is then hoisted to lift the frame A and the container thus attached to its mobile beams 4.

As soon as the weight of the container is applied to the hooking points 12 of the respective mobile beams as by lifting frame A and its load, the springs 7 compress until the top extensions of the mobile beam vertical parts 5 come to rest on the top flanges of the respective girders I,.whereby the weight of the container load is supported directly on the respective girders 1, rather than through rollers 9.

Thus, frame A has the advantage that even though its mobile beams 4, when unloaded, can readily be adjusted longitudinally thereof by rolling same along on their rollers 9, such rollers 9 may be relatively small as they will have transmitted therethrough in riding along the respective girders loads not significantly exceeding the weight of the individual beams 4.

This invention contemplates that the rollers are extended for rolling use in the unloaded condition'of the frame A, but are automatically retracted to an inoperative position when the weight of the container load is carried by the frame. Thus, the rollers 9 are bypassed in the transmitting of the container weight to the frame girders 1, and further, the loaded beams 4,

in resting directly on the girders when supporting a container,

are held by static friction against movement longitudinally of frame A, which avoids having to physically lock the mobile beams against movement. 2

Now with reference to the embodiment of FIGS. 4--7, the frame B comprises two-box girders 20 connected at their ends by bracings 21 (see FIGS. 6 and 7) and at their top parts by the fixed yoke 22 at the midlength portion of the frame by means of which the whole frame is suspended from the crane (not shown), as from eye 19. At its bottom part each girder 20 is provided with a guiding rail 23 that extends longitudinally thereof.

The frame B includes an outer or larger mobile beam structure 24, shown transverse section in FIG. 5, that comprises a framework composed of horizontal member 25 (see FIGS. 4 and 6) extending transversely of and spanning girders 20, to which is connected upright members 26 disposed outwardly of the girders, the top extension parts of which extend over the respective girders 20 (see FIG. 4) and form the load-transmitting seats of the mobile beam structure 24. On this extension of each of the respective members 26 is fixed a casing 27 (see FIGS. '5 and A), similar to that of FIGS. I-3, inside which is disposed a helical compression spring 28 within which is disposed a rod 29 carrying the yoke 29A in which is fitted the wheel 30 and having fixed to same a spring seat 31A,

- against which one end of the spring 28 seats to bias the beam structure 24 to the position of FIG. 5 in the unloaded condition of frame B. The beam structure 24 includes load-hooking points 32 (similar to points 12 of FIGS. 1-3) and cantilever mounted, as by being applied at the end of the respective arms 33 that are suitably fixed to the respective members 25 and engage in reaction to loads carried by frame B at the points 34 against the respective girders 20. Arms 33 each include a guide block 33A that respectively engage the outer sides of The respective rails 23 for guiding purposes during adjustment 'movement of beam structure 24.

The frame B also includes an inner or smaller mobile beam structure 35 similarly comprised, which is in the form of a framework composed of a relatively short horizontal member 36 (see FIGS. 4 and 7) extending transversely of the girders,

to which is connected vertical members 37 (see FIG. 4), the

top extension parts of which also extend over the respective girders 20, form the load-transmitting seats of the mobile beam structure 35, and support a casing 27 and its already indicated associated parts similarly secured in place (in the manner indicated in FIG. 5). The beam structure 35 includes load-hooking points 39 of the type already referred to, cantilever mounted, as by being applied to the ends of a crossmember 38 (FIGS. 6 and 7) carried at the ends of the arms 40 which are attached to the member 36, which arms 40 engage in reaction to the loads carried by frame B at the points 41 against the respective girders and respectively carry guide blocks 40A that engage the inner sides of the respective rails 23 for guiding purposes during adjustment movement of beam structure 35. Loading hooking points 39 are positioned to be at the same level as hooking points 32.

When no load is applied at the booking points 32 and 39, the springs 28 of the respective mobile beam structures 24 and 35 balance the dead load of the beam structures 24 and 35, and space the top extension parts of members 26 and 37 from the respective girders 20 whereby these mobile beams can readily be moved by rolling on their wheels 30 to be put in the proper position for receiving the load (in which the load should be centered relative to frame B, as indicated relative to frame A).

The beam structures 24 and 35 are arranged so that their members and 36 are disposed in different horizontal plans and the running areas of the wheels associated with each member 25 and 36 are also different and spaced-apart so that each mobile beam can travel the total length of its course whatever may be the position of the other beam (compare FIGS. 6 and 7). Thus the wheels 30 of mobile beam structure 24 ride on the outside top portions of the girders while the wheels 30 of beam structure ride on the inside top portions of the girders. Thus, the mobile beam structures are arranged for independent telescoping movement relative to each other, and their relation to girders 20 is such that girders 20 may be shorter than the containers to be lifter (see FIGS. 6 and 7).

As soon as the beam structures 24 and 35 are loaded, the springs 28 are compressed and the beam structures then rest on the girders 20 at the bottom surfaces of the respective top extensions of the upright members 26 or 37 of the respective mobile beam structures, which form the previously indicated load transmitting seats.

Of course, one would not depart from the invention by employing other embodiments which would differ only in details from those given here as examples. Such would be the case, for instance, if the flanges of the mobile beams under load rested on the bottom flanges of the girders, or if the rolling devices were flexibly connected to the respective mobile beams through rubber blocks.

lclaim:

l. A lift frame for lifting freight containers of varying lengths, said frame comprising:

a frame structure adapted to be horizontally disposed and defining runways extending longitudinally thereof and that are spaced-apart transversely of the frame and are oriented to be horizontally disposed when said frame structure is horizontally disposed;

a pair of mobile beam structures carried by said frame structure and mounted for movement independent of each other longitudinally of said frame structure;

said beam structures each including rollers positioned to ride on the respective runways;

means for releasably securing therespective beam structures to the respective ends of a freight container to form the loaded condition of said frame;

means for resiliently mounting said rollers on said beam structures for permitting downward deflection of said beam structures a predetermined amount when the weight of a freight container secured to the respective mobile beam structures through said releasable securing means is applied through said beam structures to said frame structure on lifting of said frame to lift the container secured thereto;

said mobile beam structures each including load-supporting seat means adapted to engage said frame structure on said deflection of said beam structures under the weight of the container secured thereto whereby the weight of the container is applied to said frame structure through said means; and

said resilient mounting means when said mobile beam structures are free of containers biasing the respective beam structures vertically against gravity to space said seat means from said frame structure whereby the respective mobile beam structures ride on their respective rollers for ready adjustment longitudinally of said frame structure.

2. The frame set forth in claim 1 wherein said frame structure comprises:

a pair of I-beams positioned in side-by-side spaced-apart parallel relation;

means for fixing said l-beams together in said relation thereof;

said l-beams each comprising a pair of end flanges connected together by a web;

said l-beams being positioned to dispose said end flanges thereof horizontally;

wherein said runways of said frame structure are defined by one of said end flanges of the respective I-beams; and

said seat means of the respective mobile beam structures engaging the other of said end flanges of the respective beams in the loaded condition of said frame.

3. The frame set forth in claim 1 wherein said frame structure comprises:

a pair of box beams positioned in side-by-side spaced-apart parallel relation;

means for fixing said box beams together in said relation thereof;

said box beams each including a top plate structure forming 

